Democracy of Hypocrisy

Natives in both Ontario and B.C plan to fight the HST that will take effect on July 1, 2010. The conflict looms because of a broken relationship between the governments and the Native peoples. Ontario Native Chiefs say they will launch a campaign against the HST that will include road blockades, traffic disruptions and possible legal action against the government of Canada. BC first nations are also considering different courses of action on their turf. First Nations leaders say that the government did not consult them, which they feel is an attack on their sovereignty because the government has a legal requirement to consult the First Nations on matters that impact their rights to title, something they feel this tax does.

Follow up:

The HST in Ontario would eliminate the existing exemption of First Nation's people from paying provincial taxes.

Assembly of First Nations Chief Shawn Atleo said the brewing controversy over Ontario, B.C. and the federal government's decision to go ahead with implementing the HST was another example of the tattered relationship between natives and Canada.

"This is part of a deep misunderstanding that pervades our society overall and we have to reconcile between First Nations government and the Crown," said Atleo, during a special chiefs assembly in Ottawa on Tuesday. "Something is wrong and broken, it is time we changed the relationship between First Nations and Canada."

The Native resistance is no joke and one would expect them to keep to their word as they have shown their willingness to fight for their beliefs in the past.

"The options are really direct action because government is not wanting to sit down with the First Nations leadership," said Toulouse.

"This fight is going to continue to the end. We are not going to accept this HST," he said.

It shall be an interesting turn of events whenever this takes place. I know the racists will have their day blasting the First Nations for doing what they believe is right, while these same racists sit there and do nothing but complain that they are being taxed. There will also be those who are not racist, yet cannot understand why Natives are exempt from certain taxes, or they do understand why but believe that they should not be. Everyone is entitled to believe what they wish, but it seems an all too common occurrence to see the racist undertones in people's responses in comments on things like online news etc. The fact that Natives are tax exempt in the first place causes quite a bit of conflict to some who don't agree they they should be. But the Native people know how to be heard and if it takes blockading a road or slowing traffic, then all the power to them. It will be nice to see someone actually stand up for what is right and let the government know that they cannot keep taking and taking from the people. I'm just disappointed that no others will be out doing the same. We all recall Oka crisis, at least those of us who were around then. We remember the violence, but I also remember the spirit of the resistance and if they can pull this off without any violence, from either side, that would be great news. Of course the blockades and such have not occurred in large scale yet, but they will.

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